The truck driver whose shipping container came loose and fatally crushed a bicyclist from Long Beach in late October 2015 has been charged with vehicular manslaughter

On October 27, 2015 51-year-old Robert Castorena was riding his bicycle on Santa Fe Avenue near the Carson-Long Beach city border. While riding along the right side of the truck, the container on the trailer driven by 50-year-old Wesley Phil Blake slipped off of the trailer, landing on Castorena.

Castorena died as a result of his injuries.

Big Rig Driver Faces Up to 6 Years in Prison

Prosecutors stated that at some point, the big rig driver clipped a railroad bridge which caused the fastening straps to break and the container to become loose. Blake admitted to authorities that he believed that the container was shorter than it actually was.

Blake has been charged with vehicular manslaughter to which he pleaded “not guilty”. If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison.

Why Are Big Rigs So Dangerous

Nearly half a million crashes between semi-trailers and other vehicles occur in the United States every year and approximately 5,000 people are killed as a result. Semi-trailers pose a significant safety risk to everyone on the road because:

1. Big rigs are heavier than cars

Big rigs can be well over ten times the weight of the average passenger vehicle. Because they are larger, they produce a lot more force and can cause a lot more damage than a car.

2. Big rigs are longer than cars

The length of a semi-trailer makes it heavier, more difficult to handle, and it creates more blind spots for the driver.

3. Big rig companies try to cut corners

In an effort to keep costs down, semi-trailer companies will try to save money by:

Hiring inexperienced drivers (the less experience, the lower the hourly rate)